District 2 · Findlay
Hunting Near Mansfield
City in Richland County, 3-deer limit. Closest open ground: Charles Mill Lake Hunt Area, 6.9 miles out.
Photo: Paul Hurtado (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Quick facts for hunters bound for Mansfield
The seat of Richland County, Mansfield is also home to more than 25,000 people, in the stretch of Northwest Ohio that ODNR manages as District 2. Mansfield had 47,593 residents in the Census Vintage 2024 count, on 30.9 square miles of land. Charles Mill Lake Hunt Area is the nearest public hunting ground, 6.9 miles out, and 3 listed properties fall inside 10 miles (2,855 acres by GIS). Around Mansfield a hunter may take up to 3 deer in Richland County this season.
Town point, population and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; wildlife district from the ODNR County Contacts layer; public land rings from ODNR and PAD-US boundaries (GIS acres); deer limit from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map. Checked November 6, 2026.
Hunting properties closest to Mansfield
The Census point for Mansfield is the start of every measurement, and the far end is the closest line of each ODNR or federal boundary. Inside a 25-mile radius of Mansfield the list has 7 state wildlife areas, 4 public hunting areas, 2 state parks and 1 state forest. Size champion of the ring: Mohican-Memorial State Forest, near 4,541 acres. Among 9 tracts with a game list, 2 name pheasants and 2 name doves, so upland and dove hunters have options too. Status is the ODNR hunting-status layer: restricted parcels allow hunting with limits, such as set zones or archery only. The check-with-ODNR tag marks a property whose rule text and map layer differ on hunting.
| Public land and distance | Kind | Acres | ODNR status | Game | Lotteries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mill Lake Hunt Area · 6.9 mi | Public hunting area | 3,234 | Restricted | furbearer trapping | 1 lottery |
| Cherp's Eagle Valley Wildlife Area · 7.1 mi | Public hunting area | 177 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Black Fork Bottom Hunting Area · 7.4 mi | Public hunting area | 124 | Restricted | Ohio seasons | – |
| Malabar Farm State Park · 10 mi check with ODNR | State park | 875 | Check rules | squirrel, rabbit + | 1 lottery |
| Pleasant Hill Lake Hunt Area · 12 mi | Public hunting area | 2,198 | Restricted | furbearer trapping | 1 lottery |
| Mohican-Memorial State Forest · 14 mi | State forest | 4,541 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area · 17 mi | Wildlife area | 1,060 | Open | squirrel, rabbit + | 1 lottery |
| Richland County Wildlife Area 1 · 17 mi | Wildlife area | 89 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Knox Lake Wildlife Area · 17 mi | Wildlife area | 756 | Open | deer, turkey + | 1 lottery |
| Willard Marsh Wildlife Area · 20 mi | Wildlife area | 1,670 | Open | dove | – |
| Mohler Wildlife Area · 20 mi | Wildlife area | 46 | Open | deer, squirrel + | – |
| Cool Springs Wildlife Conservation Park · 21 mi | Wildlife area | 192 | Open | Ohio seasons | – |
| Funk Bottoms Wildlife Area · 21 mi | Wildlife area | 1,536 | Open | deer, squirrel + | 1 lottery |
| Mt Gilead State Park · 21 mi check with ODNR | State park | 181 | Check rules | deer, raccoon + | 1 lottery |
Distances and acres from places.json and lands.json (ODNR_LANDS and hunting-status layers, PAD-US 4.1, USFS layers; GIS measures, not surveyed acreage); status from the ODNR hunting-status layer; lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting access lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
What Richland County rules mean for Mansfield
ODNR prints the Richland County deer class as three-deer; deer from different counties add up to the statewide 6, with one antlered buck in total. Richland County is outside the CWD Disease Surveillance Area, so the DSA bait ban and early seasons do not apply. For ducks, Mansfield uses the Zone B dates set for 2026-27. The South zone spring dates cover Richland County; fall hunting runs there too. And in Richland County, river otter trapping is in Otter Zone B. An Ohio resident pays $19.00 for the annual hunting license and $31.20 for an either-sex deer permit. Gun-season orange is a garment rule in Ohio: a vest, coat, jacket or coveralls in solid or camouflage hunter orange. A tagged deer has to be checked in by noon the next day.
Deer limits from the 2026-27 deer bag limit map and regulations; DSA from OAC 1501:31-19-03; CWD detections from ODNR; waterfowl zones from the 2026-27 regulations; turkey zones from the turkey rules. Checked November 6, 2026.
The first stops out of Mansfield
Charles Mill Lake Hunt Area, 6.9 mi
Hunted for: furbearer trapping. Expect drawn hunts here too (1 on the 2026 list).
Malabar Farm State Park, 10 mi
Located in Pleasant Valley of Richland County, Malabar Farm is representative of the diversity of the glaciated Appalachian Plateau region and was the dream of sustainable agriculture for the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist, Louis Bromfield. Hunted for: squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, fox, deer. Expect drawn hunts here too (1 on the 2026 list).
Pleasant Hill Lake Hunt Area, 12 mi
Hunted for: furbearer trapping. Expect drawn hunts here too (1 on the 2026 list).
Descriptions, species, dove fields and access from each property’s ODNR page and the ODNR property details layer, or the agency page linked on the land page (lands.json); lotteries from the 2026 controlled hunting lists. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mansfield openers for 2026-27
For Mansfield the table lists 51 seasons for 2026-27: deer, turkey, small game, upland birds, waterfowl, doves, woodcock and furbearers.
| Game | Split or method | Zone | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Deer | Youth gun | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Deer | Gun | Statewide | Nov 30, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | |
| Deer | Bonus gun | Statewide | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | Statewide | Jan 2, 2027 | Jan 5, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Fall | Fall counties | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Squirrels | Regular | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Cottontail | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Pheasant | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Youth small game weekend | Statewide | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Chukar | Regular | Statewide | Nov 6, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Mourning dove | Dove | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Teal | Early teal | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Sep 13, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Ducks (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 1) | Zone B | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Geese and brant | Geese (split 2) | Zone B | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Oct 16, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Rails | Rail | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | |
| Crow | Crow (Fri-Sun) | Statewide | Jun 5, 2026 | Mar 7, 2027 | |
| Groundhog | No closed season | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Hunting (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Trapping (no closed season) | Statewide | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Skunk | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Weasel | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Mink | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Muskrat | Trapping | Statewide | Nov 10, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| River otter | Trapping | Otter Zone B | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Beaver | Trapping | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
From the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list (ODNR Division of Wildlife), checked November 6, 2026.
What Richland County hunters checked
The county where Mansfield sits checked 5,151 deer in 2025-26. Early numbers for 2026-27 in Richland County: 999 deer through November 3, 2026. By method in the 2025-26 summary, Richland County gave 1,888 deer to gun hunters, 1,809 to crossbows and 596 to vertical bows. Turkey check-ins for Richland County, spring 2026: 190.
| Season | Checked | With antlers | Without | Bow and crossbow | Gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 3,937 | 1,555 | 2,382 | 1,924 | – |
| 2023-24 | 4,169 | 1,693 | 2,476 | 2,031 | – |
| 2024-25 | 5,028 | 1,921 | 3,107 | 2,295 | 2,733 |
| 2025-26 | 5,151 | 2,063 | 3,088 | 2,442 | 2,709 |
Final weekly deer harvest reports: 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26; 2026-27 to date from the in-season report; spring turkey from the 2026 spring turkey results; 2025-26 by method from the 2025-26 deer summary. County totals, not town figures. Checked November 6, 2026.
Wildlife offices near Mansfield
The shortest drive from Mansfield to an ODNR wildlife office is 30 miles, to ODNR Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area headquarters. For area maps and field staff, Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area headquarters (Shreve) is the closest wildlife area base to the county centre. Richland County has its own wildlife officer: Nathan Kaufmann, per ODNR.
District offices from the ODNR wildlife contacts page and Districts layer; county wildlife officers from the ODNR County Contacts layer; nearest offices measured from the town point (services.json); ranger district offices from the USFS office layer (places.json). Checked November 6, 2026.
Dates on the hunting calendar near Mansfield
A 30-mile ring around town takes in 3 dates ahead, covering DU dinner, NWTF banquet and hunter education class. Expect no room at 1 of these; the button shows the live status.
| Scheduled | What | How far | Where held | Link | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Full ODNR Hunter Education Class (Shiloh) · hunter education class, Shiloh | 15 | Shiloh, Richland County | Class page (full) | Source |
| Feb 27, 2027 | Knox County DU Annual Banquet · DU dinner, Howard | 27 | Howard, Knox County | Tickets | Source |
| Apr 11, 2027 | Buckeye Toms Banquet · NWTF banquet, Marengo | 29 | Marengo, Morrow County | Tickets | Source |
Results and past events
| Day | Event | Grounds | Who won | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 2) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | CH'PR'Uchtman One Eyed Darlin HTX BLU | Source |
| Jul 25, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | 'PR'B&w's Dr. Pheelgood TW | Source |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Knox Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 2) · UKC nite hunt, Gambier | Gambier, Knox County | 'PR'Catman Dax TW | Source |
| Jul 17, 2026 | Knox Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Gambier | Gambier, Knox County | CH NITECH'PR'Bear Creek Peggy Sue BLU | Source |
| Jul 11, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 2) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | GRNITECH(4)'PR'Ticking Time Bomb TW | Source |
| Jul 11, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | NITECH CH'PR'Baer Creek Wild Lady BLU | Source |
| Jul 10, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 2) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | 'PR'Country Grammar TW | Source |
| Jul 10, 2026 | Morrow Co CHA UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) · UKC nite hunt, Cardington | Cardington, Morrow County | CH'PR'Uchtman One Eyed Darlin HTX BLU | Source |
Shops and butchers serving Mansfield hunters
18 gun, archery or outdoor shops, 8 taxidermy shops and 3 processors are listed within 25 miles of Mansfield.
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry and the ODNR office list (services.json); not every listing was checked as open, so call first. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mansfield: three ranges within a short drive
Nearest to Mansfield is Richland County Fish & Game (3 miles), with two more after it.
With free (Class D), Mansfield shooters can use Spencer Lake Wildlife Area Shooting Range, 34 miles away. Details
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 6, 2026.
Mansfield hours on key season dates
Ohio deer hunters may shoot from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks, geese, squirrels and fall turkeys stop at sunset; rabbits, pheasants, quail and doves wait for sunrise.
| Date | Opener | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game | Duck window | Pheasant window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:20 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:20 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey | 7:25 a.m. | 7:14 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 7:25 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. |
| Nov 6, 2026 | Rabbit and pheasant | 7:06 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Second duck split | 7:24 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 30, 2026 | Deer gun week | 7:34 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:34 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:51 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 7:21 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | 7:51 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 2, 2027 | Muzzleloader | 7:54 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 7:24 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 7:54 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Eastern Time); checked November 6, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Mansfield hunters ask, the data answers
When do gobblers open around Mansfield?
Richland County is in the South zone; in 2026 it ran April 25 to May 24, 2026. ODNR had not posted 2027 dates. Fall: open, October 1 to October 25, 2026.
Where do I check the waterfowl boundary near Mansfield?
The 2026-27 regulations print the boundary roads; Richland County is in Zone B either way.
Which wildlife officer patrols Richland County?
ODNR lists Nathan Kaufmann for Richland County, phone (419) 429-8392.
Can I go hunting near Mansfield this week?
Very likely: 14 season rows were live in Richland County on November 6, 2026 for Deer, Squirrels, Cottontail, Pheasant and Chukar.
How many gun and outdoor shops are around Mansfield?
18 gun, archery or outdoor listings inside 25 miles.
Is legal light at Mansfield the same as in Columbus?
Not to the minute. The times on this page are worked out for the Mansfield town point with the NOAA solar formula; on November 6, 2026 sunrise there was 7:06 a.m.
Does ODNR publish a deer count for Mansfield itself?
Not for towns. The county figure is the closest: 5,151 deer in Richland County for 2025-26.
Can I apply for a lottery hunt near Mansfield?
Yes, through the ODNR controlled hunting access lotteries ($3 per application). 7 nearby properties are on the 2026 list.
What is the deer bag limit around Mansfield?
The county limit is 3. Deer taken on controlled hunts do not count toward it.
Is there huntable public ground a short drive from Mansfield?
Yes: Charles Mill Lake Hunt Area is 6.9 miles out. Within 10 miles the list runs to 3 public hunting areas.
Can I hunt over a corn pile near Mansfield?
On private land with permission, yes, since Richland County is outside the DSA; never on wildlife areas, state forests or other public hunting ground.
Answers from places.json, lands.json, regs.json, harvest.json and services.json, the 2026-27 Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations and the 2026-27 hunting seasons list. Checked November 6, 2026.
Mansfield trip planning
More planning for Mansfield: county rules, deer limits and the statewide land map.
Other photos on this page: Scott Bauer, USDA NRCS (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Art Anderson (CC BY-SA 3.0); OhioOakTree (CC BY-SA 4.0).